Oneida Indian Nation, of Upstate NY, Begins Radio Campaign Against "Redskins"
By Albert Samaha
The Washington Redskins have an offensive nickname. It's one of those things we'll look back on 20 years from now and find absurd.
For now, however, there is debate, there is publicity, there is a radio ad campaign. The Oneida Indian Nation, which is based in Verona, New York, has bought thousands of dollars worth of commercial time during Redskins games. They'll be on D.C.'s local stations when the team plays at home, and on the opposing team's local stations when the team plays on the road.
"We do not deserve to be called redskins. We deserve to be treated as what we are -- Americans," Oneida representative Ray Halbritter says in the ad, the Associated Press reported today.
The tribe, which runs the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in central New York and own a chain of gas stations, have channeled their money to this cause before. In May, Oneida bought new sports uniforms for Cooperstown Central School after the school board voted to change the high school's nickname from Redskins to Hawkeyes.
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2013/09/upstate_oneida_ads_against_redskins.php